Power transmitting device



July 8, 1941; c. BUD'ELIER ETAL POWER TRANSMITTING DEVI OE Filed May 22,1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG'i INVENTORS CARL BUDA'L/ER y 1941- c. BUDELIERETAL 3 POWER 7 TRANSMITTING DEVICE FiledMay 22', 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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O --Ch INVENTORS (IA/2L BUD/ELIE Patented July 8, 1941 UNITED STATESPATENT: OFFICE rcwna TRANSMITTiNG DEVICE Carl Budelier, Rock Island, andWilbur J. Coultas, Moline, 111., assignors to Deere '& Company, Mcline,IlL, a corporation of Illinois Application May 22, 1939, Serial No.274,924 8 Claims. (01. c

The present invention relates to power transmitting devices, and moreparticularly to a releasable coupling for transmitting rotary power fromthe power take-off shaft of a tractor to operating mechanism on animplement drawn thereby.

Certain types of implements, such as mowers for example, are connectedto the tractor by a spring release hitch or latch that allows the cutterbar or other operating parts to swing back out of the way of seriousobstructions and there by prevent such parts from being damaged. It isdesirable that the operation of the cutter bar should be stoppedimmediately upon its release, and to this end it is the usual practiceto provide a releasable coupling device in the power train between thepower take-off shaft and the driven shaft on the implement, generallyimmediately behind the power take-01f shaft. Such coupling devicesusually consist of a jaw clutch, the driving member of which is fixed tothe power takeoff shaft and the driven member thereof being carried bythe driven shaft of the implement. When the cutter bar is released andswings rearwardly, the driven clutch member is pulled away from and outof engagement with the driving member to interrupt the transmission ofpower and stop the mechanism, said driven member usually dropping upon asupport member provided on the implement for that purpose. implement iscoupled together again by backing the tractor up, which causes thecutter bar to swing back to its normal laterally extending position andthe spring release hitch to reengage therewith. At the same time, theclutch driven member is manually guided into engagement with the drivingmember on the power take-off shaft to reestablish the power connection.One objection to this arrangement, however, resides in the fact that itis necessary to guide the driven clutch member into engagement with thedriving member at the same time that the tractor is being operated, anddue to the relative placement of the tractor controls and the powertake-off shaft, such simultaneous operation is frequently dinicult andhazardous when performed by one man.

The principal object of the present invention, therefore, is to providea releasable coupling device of the character described which can bereadily connected with the power take-off shaft after the spring releasehitch has been recoupled, thereby eliminating the necessity ofperforming both operations simultaneously. We accomplish this object bymounting the clutch driven member On a telescoping shaft and providingsuitable The:

spring means for urging the clutch driven member into engagement withthe driving member. The driven shaft of the implement is recoupled withthe power take-off shaft of the tractor by telescoping the driven shaftagainst the compression of the spring sufficiently to align the clutchdriven member with the driving member, and then allowing the spring toforce the driven member intoengagement with the driving member.

Other objects and advantageous features of our invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art after consideration of thefollowing detailed description of the preferred form thereof, referencebeing had to the appended drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentaryplan view of a tractor mounted mower embodying our improved r'eleasablecoupling device in the power transmission system thereof; and

Figure 2 is an enlarged, partially sectioned vieu of the couplingdevice, showing the clutch mem bers separated. I 0

Referring now to the drawings, we have illustrated our improved powertransmitting device embodied in a mower mounted on atractor 5 of thetype comprising abody having laterally extending rear axle housings 6,l, axles 8 jourhaled therein, and drive wheels 9' mounted on the outerends of the axles 8. Rearwardly facing mounting bosses Hi, H areprovided on the back sides of the rear axle housings 6, 1, respectively,and serve as means for attaching the mower. A generally U-shaped drawframe l2 has the forward ends of its arm connected to the tractor bodyin any usual manner.

The draft frame of the mower is indicated in its entirety by thereference numeral 13 and consists of a, transverse pipe of tubularmember I4 secured by brackets I5 to the draw frame I2 and by a verticalstandard Hi to the mounting bdss' H on the rear axle housing I. AU-shaped main supporting frame 20 of the mower is pivotaliy connected tothe pipe I4 for vertical swinging movement, by means of clamp members2i, fixed to the front ends of the arms thereof. This main,

frame extends rearwardly from the tractor and: is further supported bymeans of a tension link 22, which is bolted at 23 to the left arm of theframe 2!]- and slidably engages the upper end of a vertical standard 2-4fixed to the mounting boss I 0 on the axle housing 6. A nut 25 isthreaded on the forward endof thelink 22 and engages the :front face ofthe standard 24' to limit the downward swinging movement oftheU-shapedframe member 20 and thereby hold the mower in' proper operatingposition with respect to the tractor. A shoulder 26 on the link 22 isengageable with the back face of the standard 24 to limit the upwardswinging movement of the frame member 26 to a predetermined angularextent.

The mower is carried by an auxiliary frame or sub-frame which issuitably mounted upon the main supporting frame 26. This sub-framecomprises a forward member 36 of substantially U- shape in plan, and arearward member 3|. The left-hand end of member 36 is disposed underframe '26 adjacent the rear left corner thereof and the right-hand endof the member 30 is bolted at 32 to the right end of member 3|. Thelefthand end of the rearward member 3| is disposed on top of the mainsupporting frame 20 and is secured thereto by a pivot bolt 33 which ispassed through aligned holes in members 36 and 3| and the frame 26. Thisserves to secure the members of the sub-frame together and also toprovide a pivotal connection between the sub-frame and the mainsupporting frame 26, the sub-frame being swingable about the bolt 33relative to frame 26 so as to be moved into and out of operatingrelation thereto.

The sub-frame, which carries the mower cutter bar and operatingmechanism, is normally locked to the main supporting frame 20 with themember 3| disposed above the bight portion of this frame 26 and insubstantial parallelism therewith, the cutter bar 43 extending laterallyoutwardly beyond the right hand side of the tractor. In order that thecutter :bar may swing rearwardly to clear an obstruction which offersconsiderable resistance thereto, such as a stump or rock, the mower isprovided with means for releasably locking the sub-frame to the mainframe in operative relation thereto, said means taking the form of aspring release latch, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral34. Since the latch 34 forms no part of the present invention, it is notdeemed necessary to show and describe the same in detail herein,although reference may be had to letters Patent No. 1,915,548, grantedto T. W. Paul on June 27, 1933, for details of construction andoperation of such a latch. Suffice to say, the latch 34 is mounted onthe sub-frame member 3| and has suitable cooperating members adapted toengage the bight portion of the main supporting frame 20 for holding thesub-frame of the mower in operating position against normal operatingresistance. In the event that the cutter bar 43 encounters an objectwhich offers unusual resistance thereto such as would be apt to causeinjury to the mower, the resulting rearward pressure causes the latch 34to disengage the frame 26, thus releasing the sub-frame which is thenfree to swing rearwardly into the extreme dotted line position of Figure1 so as to clear the obstruction. After the obstruction has beencleared, the mower can readily be restored to operating position bybacking the tractor up, which causes the sub-frame to swing about thepivot 33 to its normally laterally extending position and the latch 34to automatically reengage the frame 20.

Mounted on the sub-frame member 3| adjacent the left end thereof, is atransmission housing 35 of usual construction and preferably embodyingan integral bearing sleeve 36. An L-shaped drag bar 46 is pivotallymounted at its inner end in the bearing sleeve 36 and is suitablyconnected at its outer end to the shoe head 4| of the cutting mechanism.This cutting mechanism is, in general, of known type and comprises thehead 4|, shoe 42, cutter bar 43 and associated parts. The cuttingmechanism need not be illustrated or described in detail, it beingsufficient to note that such a mechanism of more or less conventionaltype is provided. The shoe head 4| is also connected by a tension rod 44to the front portion of the sub-frame member 30, said tension rod beingpivotally connected by a bolt 45 to a bracket .46 fixedly mounted on themember 30. The drag bar 40 and tension rod 44 thus allow the shoe head4| and associated parts to rise and fall in a manner well known in theart.

The cutter bar 43 is reciprocated in the usual manner by means of a,pitman suitably connected thereto at one end, the other end of thispitman rod being eccentrically connected at 5| to a flywheel 52 which isdriven, from a drive shaft, through a suitable transmission of knowntype mounted in the housing 35. The mower drive shaft is driven, throughthe medium of a transmission shaft and universal joints, from arearwardly extending, splined power take-off shaft 53 of the tractor 5,there being a releasable clutch of special construction disposed inserial arrangement between the tractor power take-01f shaft and themower drive shaft, which acts to disconnect the power from the mowerwhen it is swung rearwardly out of operative position. v

Referring now more particularly to Figure 2, the driving member of thereleasable clutch is in the form of a sleeve 54 which fits over the endof the power take-off shaft 53 and is fixedly secured thereto by asplit-clamp portion 55 that is tightened by a nut and bolt 56. Therearward portion of the sleeve 54 has a cylindrical outer periphery andfunctions as a supporting hub or pilot, while intermediate of the endsof the sleeve is a flange 6| having a plurality of rearwardly facing,unidirectional teeth 62. These teeth cooperate with similar teeth 63provided on a flange 64 at the front end of a collar 65 forming thedriven member of the clutch. The collar 65 has a cylindrical aperture 66which is adapted to receive the pilot 6!] in a loose telescoping fitallowing for sliding as well as rotating movement of the member 65relative to the member 54. The clutch teeth 63 are directed oppositelyto teeth 62, the teeth of the two clutch elements being so related thatthe member 65 is driven in the direction of the arrow A from the powertake-off shaft 53, this being the normal direction of rotation of shaft53.

The driven clutch member 65 also includes an integral forked portion 61comprising one element of a universal joint 66 provided at the front endof the transmission shaft 10, the other element 7| of the joint beingfixedly secured, as by welding, to the end of the shaft 10. Thetransmission shaft 10 consists of a large tubular member 12 and asmaller tubular member 13, both of square cross section, with the largertube telescoping over the smaller one and longitudinally slidablerelative thereto. A second universal joint 14 is disposed at the rearend of the transmission shaft 10 and comprises one member 15 which iswelded or otherwise suitably secured to the end of the smaller tube 13,and a second member 76 which is fixed to the mower drive shaft.

Disposed within the square tubular members 12, 13 is a longitudinallyextending rod 80, the

front end of which is cut back, as at 8|, to form a shoulder 83. Thereduced end portion 8| of the rod extends through an aperture 84 in anend wall 85 which is fixed to the tube 12, and is secured by a cotterpin 86 which bears against the front face of the wall 85 to preventrelative rearward movement of the rod 80. The shoulder 83 bears againstthe back face of the wall 85 to prevent relative forward movement of therod 80.

The rear end of the rod 89 extends through an aperture 99 in a partitionwall 9| which is disposed within and fixed to the smaller tubular member13. The rod 80 is freely slidable within the aperture 99 and isprevented from slipping out of the aperture by a cotter pin 92 which ispassed through the end of the rod and is adapted to bear against theback face of the partition wall 9| in the manner of a limit stop. Acompression spring 93 encircles the rod 8!], bearing at one end againstthe partition wall 9| and at the other end against the end wall 85.Thus, the telescoping transmission shaft 19 has its two tubular members12, 13 urged apart into fully extended position by the spring 93, theextended length of the shaft being more or less determined by thedistance between walls 85, 9t and the relative length of the rod 80.Since the engaging teeth 62, 63 of the clutch are perpendicular to theforce acting thereon during operation, a great force is not required tobe exerted by the spring 93 to hold the members together. The spring istherefore made light enough to be easily compressed by hand.

The operation of our device is as follows: When the mower is initiallymounted on the tractor, the draft frame 13 is first connected with thetractor body by means of the brackets I and vertical standards I6, 24.The sleeve 54 is then slipped onto the tractor power take-off shaft 53and secured thereto by the clamp 55. Next, the transmission shaft istelescoped against the pressure of the spring 93, and the clutch member65 is guided onto the pilot member 60, after which the spring is allowedto force the clutch teeth 63 into operating engagement with the teeth 62so that the transmission shaft 10 is driven from the power take-offshaft 53 of the tractor.

In the event that the cutter bar encounters an obstruction which offerssufficient resistance to release the sub-frame from the main frame, thesub-frame swings rearwardly so that the cutter bar clears theobstruction, as previously described. This rearward swinging movement ofthe sub-frame about the pivot 33 withdraws the transmission shaft Hi,and with it the clutching member 65, from the power take-off shaft 53,thereby disengaging the clutching members 54, 65 and interrupting thedrive to the cutter bar. When the member 65 is withdrawn clear of thepilot to, the transmission shaft 10, being no longer supported at itsfront end, drops down upon a support member 94 provided on the subframemember 39 for the purpose. the obstruction has been cleared, theoperator swings the cutter bar back into its operative position, afterwhich the driving connection between shafts 53 and Ill is reestablishedby manually telescoping the shaft "I'll sufilciently to bring the collar%5 into register with the pilot hub 60, and then releasing the shaft toallow the spring 93 to force the driven clutch member into operatingengagement with the driving clutch member.

What we claim is:

As soon as 1. In combination, a main frame, an auxiliary frame movabletoward and away from said main frame, releasable means normallyconnecting said frames, rotary mechanism mounted on each of said frames,and power transmitting means interconnecting said mechanisms includingshaft means, releasable means for coupling one end of said shaft meansto, and supporting the same on one of said mechanisms, comprising a pairof relatively rotatable telescoping members, each having a clutchelement fixed thereto, said elements being interengageable only whensaid telescoping members are substantially closed together, and flexiblemeans connecting the other end of said shaft means with the other ofsaid mechanisms, said telescoping members being separated axially whensaid auxiliary frame moves away from said main frame, thereby firstdisengaging said clutch elements and then dropping said shaft means andsaid telescoping members away from alinement with each other, said powertransmitting means being extensible and having means biasing the sametoward extended position, whereby said power transmitting means can bemanually shortened to bring said telescoping members into alinementafter said auxiliary frame is returned to normally connected positionrelative to said main frame.

2. In combination, a driving shaft, a driven shaft movable into and outof operative position with respect to said driving shaft, andtransmission means for releasably coupling said shafts together, wherebysaid driven shaft is automatically disconnected from the driving shaftwhen moved out of said operative position, said transmission meanscomprising a transmission shaft,

flexible means connecting one end of said trans- 'mission shaft withsaid driven shaft, a pair of separable relatively rotatable telescopingmembers, one of said members being connected with said driving shaft andthe other being connected with the other end of said transmission shaft,said telescoping members serving to support said transmission shaft wheninterengaged and allowing the transmission shaft to drop away from thedriving shaft when separated, a pair of clutch elements fixed to saidtelescoping members, respectively, and interengageable only when thelatter are telescoped together, and resilient means tending to extendsaid transmission, means to hold said clutch elements together, saidresilient means being yieldable to permit manually shortening saidtransmission means to allow said other telescoping member to be alignedwith and engage said first named telescoping member when said drivenshaft is in operative position, and thereafter urging the clutchingelements into driving connection.

3. In combination, a driving shaft, a driven shaft movable into and outof operative position with respect to said driving shaft, andtransmission means for releasably coupling said shafts together, wherebysaid driven shaft is automatically disconnected from the driving shaftwhen moved out of said operative position, said transmission meanscomprising a telescoping transmission shaft, flexible means connectingone end of saidtransmission shaft with said driven shaft, a drivingclutch member fixedly mounted on said driving shaft, a driven clutchmember connected clutch members, respectively, and disposed coaxiallythereof, said telescoping members cooperating to support saidtransmission shaft when engaged, and releasing the same when disengagedwhereby said driven clutch member drops away from alignment with saiddriving clutch member, and resilient means tending to extend saidtransmission shaft, said resilient means being yieldable to permitmanually telescoping the shaft to allow said telescoping member on saiddriven clutch member to be moved into axial alignment with thecorresponding member on said driving clutch member when said drivenshaft is in operative position and thereafter urging the driven clutchmember into engagement with the driving clutch member.

4. In combination, a driving shaft, a driven shaft movable into and outof operative position with respect to said driving shaft, andtransmission means for releasably coupling said shafts together, wherebysaid driven shaft is automatically disconnected from the driving shaftwhen moved out of said operative position, said transmission meanscomprising a telescoping transmission shaft, flexible means connectingone end of said transmission shaft with said driven shaft, a drivingclutch member fixedly mounted on said driving shaft, a driven clutchmember adapted for axial movement relative to said driving clutch memberinto and out of engagement therewith,

flexible means connecting said driven clutch member with the other endof said transmission shaft, means on said driving clutch member adaptedto slidably and rotatably receive said driven clutch member forsupporting the same in axially aligned engagement with the drivingclutch member, but permitting relative rotation therebetween until saidclutch members move axially into engagement with each other, said drivenclutch member dropping away from axial alignment with the driving clutchmember when disengaged therefrom, and resilient means tending to extendsaid transmission shaft, said resilient means being yieldable to permitmanually telescoping the shaft to allow said driven clutch member to bebrought into register with said supporting means, and thereafter urgingthe driven clutch member into engagement with the driving clutch member.

5. In combination, a driving shaft, a driven shaft movable axially intoand out of operative position with respect to said driving shaft, andtransmission means for releasably coupling said shafts together wherebysaid driven shaft is automatically disconnected from the driving shaftwhen moved out of said operative position, said transmission meanscomprising a pair of shaft members connected together for axial slidingmovement relative one another and adapted to transmit rotary power, oneof said shaft memhere being operatively connected with said drivenshaft, a driving clutch member fixedly mounted on said driving shaft, adriven clutch member operatively connected with the other of said shaftmembers and adapted for axial movement relative to said driving clutchmember into and out of driving engagement therewith, means associatedwith said driving clutch member engageable with said driven clutchmember for rotataly supporting the same in axial alignment with saiddriving clutch member but out of clutching engagement therewith, saidsupport means being adapted to release said driven clutch member whensaid driven shaft is moved out of said operative position and allow thesame to drop out of axial alignment with said driving clutch member, andspring means connected with said shaft members for extending the same,said spring means being yieldable to permit manually sliding the shaftmembers together whereby said driven clutch member can be aligned withsaid driving clutch member and supported on said supporting means whensaid driven shaft is in operative position, and said spring meansthereafter urging the driven clutch member into driving engagement withthe driving clutch member.

6. In combination, a driving shaft, a driven shaft movable axially intoand out of operative position with respect to said driving shaft, andtransmission means for releasably coupling said shafts together wherebysaid driven shaft is automatically disconnected from the driving shaftwhen moved out of said operative position, said transmission meanscomprising a pair of square tubular shaft members disposed intelescoping relation, a universal joint connecting one of said shaftmembers with said driven shaft, a driving clutch member fixedly mountedon said driving shaft, a driven clutch member movable axially relativeto said driving clutch member into and out of driving engagementtherewith, a second universal joint connecting said driven clutch memberwith the other of said shaft members, said clutch members havingcooperating portions adapted to support said tubular shaft members whenengaged, providing for relative rotation therebetween until said clutchmembers move axially into engagement with each other, and releasing thesame when disengaged whereby said driven clutch member drops away fromalignment with said driving clutch member, a compression spring disposedwithin said tubular shaft members and bearing at each end against one ofsaid shaft members tending to extend the same, said spring beingyieldable to permit manually telescoping said shaft members whereby saiddriven clutch member can be positioned in alignment with said drivingclutch member with said cooperating portions in engagement, when saiddriven shaft is in operative position, said spring thereafter urging thedriven clutch member into engagement with the driving clutch member.

'7. For use with a tractor having a power takeoff shaft, an implementcomprising a main supporting frame adapted to be mounted on the tractorbody, an auxiliary frame connected with saidmain frame for swingingmovement relative thereto between operative and inoperative positions, alatch device for releasably holding said auxiliary frame in operativeposition, operating mechanism carried on said auxiliary frame andswingable therewith, and transmission means for releasably coupling saidpower take-off shaft with said operating mechanism whereby the latter isautomatically disconnected from the power take-off shaft when saidauxiliary frame swings to inoperative position, said transmission meanscomprising a telescoping transmission shaft, means connecting one end ofsaid transmission shaft with said operating mechanism, a driving clutchmember fixed to said power take-off shaft, a driven clutch memberconnected with the other end of said transmission shaft and adapted foraxial movement relative to said driving clutch member into and out ofengagement therewith, a pair of separable relatively rotatabletelescoping members associated with said clutch members, respectively,and disposed coaxially thereof, said telescoping members serving tosupport said transmission shaft when engaged and allowing thetransmission shaft to drop away from the power take-off shaft whendisengaged, and spring means for urging said telescoping transmissionshaft into extended position and normally maintaining said driven clutchmember in engagement with the driving clutch member, said spring meansbeing yieldable to permit manually telescoping the shaft and bringingsaid telescoping member on the driven clutch member into register withthe corresponding member on said driving clutch member when saidauxiliary frame is in operative position.

8. For use with a tractor having a rearwardly extending power take-offshaft, a mowing implement comprising a main supporting frame adapted tobe fixedly mounted on the rear end of the tractor body, a cutter barsupporting frame connected With said main frame for swinging movementrelative thereto between a laterally extending operative position and arearwardly trailing inoperative position, a forwardly extending driveshaft journaled on said cutter bar supporting frame for driving cuttingmechanism thereon, and transmission means for releasably coupling saidpower take-off shaft with said drive shaft whereby the latter isautomatically disconnected from the power take-off shaft when saidcutter bar frame swings to inoperative position, said transmission meanscomprising a telescoping transmission shaft, flexible means connectingone end of said transmission shaft with said drive shaft, a drivingclutch member fixed to said power take-off shaft, a driven clutch memberadapted for axial sliding movement relative to said driving clutchmember into and out of operative engagement therewith, flexible meansconnecting said driven clutch member with the other end of saidtransmission shaft, a pair of separable relatively rotatable telescopingmembers associated with said clutch members, respectively, and disposedcoaxially thereof, said telescoping members serving to support saidtransmission shaft when engaged, permitting relative rotation beforesaid clutch members are brought into engagement, and allowing thetransmission shaft to drop away from the power take-off shaft whendisengaged, and spring means tending to extend said telescopingtransmission shaft, said spring means being yieldable to permit manuallytelescoping the shaft and bringing said telescoping member on the drivenclutch member into register with the corresponding member on saiddriving clutch member when said cutter bar frame is in operativeposition.

CARL BUDELIER. WILBUR J. COULTAS.

